Hello everyone! As you may have noticed, we have a brand new Photo Contests forum! This forum will contain contests we intend to run on a monthly basis. There are sticky threads for the rules information, and an easy guide for how to post photos to the contest thread (and to all Offshore Only forums) -- so feel free to stop by, take a look, and submit your own photos!
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the forum, and to the current month’s CONTEST THREAD for updates when new photos are added! Viewing our community’s great pet photos is a nice way to remember what it was like when we could all jump on a plane, and to anticipate when we can do so again.
June’s contest is Pet Photos. A nice big category to get us started. To enter, just go to the CONTEST THREAD and post a travel photo that you took. That’s it! Whoever’s photo gets the most “likes” that month gets a $25 Visa gift card. For legal reasons, you do need a US mailing address to be eligible to win, but anyone is welcome to post in the thread. Be sure to read the rules sticky for the other legal ins and outs.
Let’s get clicking!

Attending captains please read entire document in order to minimize any confusion.

Our Thanksgiving fun run this year is to Harpoon Harry’s at Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda. This is one of two fundraising events for our student scholarship program. If you are attending please notify me by 3PM on Wednesday the 22nd.

We are asking each captain to pay a minimum of $100 (more at your discretion). Please visit our website at www.ftmyersoffshore.com, select events, then go to event #3 and add to cart. Paying through the website makes it much easier for the board so we do not have to track down each captain.

We also have a change in the FMO board. As most of you know Bob Barnhart started the club and has played an active role in the club since inception. Bob has decided to take a much deserved break and step down as a board member. Bob plans to continue to attend as many events as possible. The FMO board would like to thank Bob for all his hard work, the club would not be around today if not for him.

We are happy to announce Ft Myers resident Tim Hill has joined the FMO board and will play an active roll in all the clubs activities. Your current board is made up of Eric Belisle, Hans Haedelt, Bill Lemanske, Drew Phyfe, Meghan Brousseau, Bill Forenski and Tim Hill

Membership information/renewal:
All vessels participating in FMO events are required to carry insurance and have a club membership. Memberships are on a calendar year basis and if you have not yet renewed your membership for 2017 or are new and wanting to join the club please visit our website. If you renew at anytime between now and year end your membership will be good for all of 2018.

Route:
Our starting point will once again be the south side of the Sanibel Bridge. Boats should assemble around 10:45am and we will leave by 11:00 Sharp. We will run up the ICW in the marked channel into Charlotte Harbor. Depending on weather conditions some may want to run offshore and enter Boca Grande Pass and travel up Charlotte Harbor.

Fuel/Distance:
From the Sanibel bridge to Punta Gorda and back should be about 110 miles for those running offshore and 100 miles by way of the ICW. Fuel is available at Punta Gorda Marina and Fisherman’s Village. 93 octane is very difficult to find so please leave with a full tank if you require high octane fuel.

Food:
We will be eating upstairs at the Captain’s Table above Harpoon Harry’s.

Communication:
My cell number is 239-849-6533. Anyone dropping out after the start should let me know so we do not spend time either waiting or looking for you. Please leave a message if I do not answer.

Weather/Sea Conditions:
To be posted on OSO prior to the run and updated as needed.

Safety:
Each boat captain is required to operate his vessel in a safe manner and is responsible for his/her crew and their safety. When running in the ICW please be aware that this can be a high traffic area and we ask that other boats be given a wide berth and that the rules of the road be adhered to. As always no alcohol for the captains. The conclusion of our event is when we arrive at the lunch destination, each captain is free to return at his or her leisure.

Club Sponsors: Ft. Myers Offshore would like to recognize it's corporate sponsors and individual / family donors for helping make these events possible and their contribution to our club and the student scholarship fund: